Vacuum cleaner



Dec. w, 1935. T, C, BETH ,l 2,023,867

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 2, 1932 INVENTOR l @Zw MM M ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED A STATES 2,023,867 VACUUM CLEANER Tom Conrad Bith, Alsten, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 2, 1932, Serial No. 608,603 In Germany May 4, 1931 s claims. (o1. 28o-12) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,792,007 granted February 10, 1931 to Engberg et al., wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner unit mounted on runners, which cleaner unit has attached thereto a hose in turn attached to a hollow wand having a suction nozzle at the end thereof. In this type of vacuum cleaner the cleaner unit rests on the oor and the wand is held in the hand of the operator. In the operation of cleaning, the hose may be pulled and the cleaner unit slides on the runners on the carpet or other surface.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the cleaner unit of this type of cleaner.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing showing several embodiments thereof, which drawing constitutes a part of this specification.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cleaner unit in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cleaner unit shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a cleaner unit embodying the invention in another form; and

Fig. 4 shows a detail of construction. Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the cleaner unit is of generally cylindrical form and includes a barrel I0 to which are attached end covers or portions II and I2. A handle I3 is 85 provided on top of the cylindrical barrel for carrying the cleaner. 'I'o the cover II is removably attached a suction hose 20 by means of a coupling 31. The hose is in turn connected to a suction nozzle, possibly with a section of rigid hose or wand. The barrel I0 encloses a dust bag 2l, a motor 22 and a fan 23 diagrammatically shown in dotted lines. In general the cleaner unit may be of the general construction shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,757,239 granted May 6, 1930. The air passes through the suction nozzle and thence through the hose 20 and is carried through the dust bag 2 I, wherefrom it passes through the fan and out at the end I2 of the cleaner unit.

The cleaner can be converted to blowing operation by transferring the coupling 31 to the outlet end I2. "l

The cleaner unit is mounted horizontally above a horizontal surface 25, which. may be a. carpet. The means for supporting the cleaner unit consists, in the present case, of forward and rear runner members I4 and I6, respectively. The forward runner member I4 consists of a wire loop connected rigidly to a fitting I5 which is rotatably mounted on a vertical pin 26 secured in a base plate 21 rigidly secured to the cylindrical 5 l. barrel I0. The mounting for the loop type runner I4 may be of various constructions such as generally used in casters for furniture and may be of ball bearing or other type. As shown in Fig. 4, bearing balls 40 may be placed in suitable 10 grooves or races between members I5 and 21 and the barrel I0 may be reinforced at 4I opposite member 21. 'I'he base plate 21 is centrally mounted with respect to the cylindrical casing, that is, it is in the central vertical longitudinal 15 plane of the cleaner unit. The runner I4 may be of round or oval cross-section. If oval cross-section is used, the major axis of the oval is parallel to the supporting surface.

The loop is formed with an elongated sup- 20 porting surface I4a. which rests on theoor or carpet. Substantially the entire supporting surface is located in back 0f the pivot point so that the runner may be freely turned through 360 as the unit is pulled along ,the iloor as by hose 20. 25 The runner is preferably made of steel wire but it is obvious that any equivalent construction may be used. i

The rear runner I6 is a double runner comprising lateral branches 28 and 29. The runner 30 I6 may be pivoted to a base plate 21 in the same manner as runner I4. The two side portions 28 and 29 are formed as loops which extend laterally outwardly from the base plate 21 and then rearwardly equidistant to the sides of the cen- 35 tral vertical longitudinal plane of the cleaner unit. The supporting surfaces of runner I6 are elongated and preferably are 'located at the rear of the pivot point similarlyto runner I4.

The mounting is preferably such that the cen- 4o ter of gravity G of the cleaner unit as a whole is between the two base plates 21 but nearer the rear base plate carrying the double runner. By having the rear runner pivoted near but slightly in back of the center of gravity, an easy move- 45 ment on the carpet takes place inasmuch as the forward runner is required to support relatively a small portion of the total weight of the unit. The forward end of the unit is accordingly comparatively free to follow the movement of hose 50 20.

In operation, it will be appreciated that on pulling the hose 20 the cleaner unit can be readily turned on the carpet. The single runner in front, y coupledwith the light weight supported thereby, 55

If the suction hose 20 is connected to the blowing end the device can still be readily pulled around. on the carpet, the runners swinging around to the opposite direction.

Referring to Fig. 3, the construction in this figure differs from that above described in that the front runner is replaced by a wheel 30 which is supported' on an arm 3| pivoted on a base plate 21 in the same manner as previously described, which arm normally extends rearwardly from the base plate 21.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein by a person skilled in the f art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing and means for mounting said casing horizontally above a horizontal surface comprising a base member, a member pivotally mounted in the base member so as to be swingable freely in a horizontal plane, and a plurality of extended loops of wire having curved ends constituting a runner secured at one end to said pivoted member and normally extending longitudinally of said casing.

2. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing and means for mounting said casing horizontally above a horizontal surface comprising a base member, a member pivotally mounted 'in the base member so as to be swingable freely in a horizontal plane, and an extended loop of wire having curved ends constituting a runner secured at one end to said pivoted member, said wire extending laterally on each side from said pivoted member and thence rearwardly to form a pair of elongated supporting surfaces.

`zontally above a horizontal surface comprising a wheel secured to said casing and pivotally mov- Y able about a vertical axis and a pair of runners pivotally mounted at the rear of said wheel and spaced therefrom. 15

5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 having a pivotally mounted wire runner in addition to the runner therein set forth.

6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 having a pivotally mounted wheel in addition to the 20 runner therein set forth.

7. A vacuum cleaner including a casing elongated in a given direction, a plurality of pivot members in alignment on said casing in said given direction, means for pulling said casing in 25 said given direction whereby one of said pivot members is a forward pivot member and another a rear pivot member, and a runner structure mounted on said rear pivot member having parts extending transversely of said given direction 30 `and surface contact parts extending substantially parallel to the casing when the casing is pulled.

8. A vacuum cleaner including a casing elon-4 gated in a given direction, a plurality of pivot members in alignment on said casing in said '35 given direction, means for pulling said casing in said given direction whereby one of said pivot members is a forward pivot member and another a rear pivot member, a runner structure mounted on said rear pivot member having parts ex-o tending transversely of said given direction and surface contact parts extending substantially parallel to the casing when the casing is pulled, and a runner member mounted on the forwar pivot member.

'roM CONRAD Br'rn. 

